i just load up all my music on to a USB stick and plug it into the USB port. the phone things never worked very well and was too clunky and problematic (probably because of me) but if you are in a car you need less not more distractions. It should be easy and fast with no clicking and check on connections etc.

Statler: Wake up you old fool. You slept through the show.Waldorf: Who's a fool? You watched it.

Sorry yes, I have an S. My concern is that I will lose functionality if I pull the deck. Is it safe to assume the app functionality is not tied to the stereo?

I would use the USB stick, but I'd have to manually transfer over my podcasts everyday and that's a non-starter. The android app I use for my phone has a "car mode" with big ole buttons to smash when I want to do anything.